14th Review
New York Film Festival: The director has made a fascinating and troubling companion piece to her Netflix documentary 13th, which takes a fiery look at American injustice.
TL;DR
- 14th, Ava DuVernay's follow-up to her documentary 13th, examines the 14th Amendment and its significance in American democracy.
- The film highlights the 14th Amendment as the "workhorse amendment," responsible for guarantees such as birthright citizenship and voting rights.
- It features constitutional experts and political figures, including Stacey Abrams and Bryan Stevenson, who discuss the amendment's role in combating injustice.
- DuVernay uses similar techniques to 13th, employing historical footage, music, and expert testimony to illustrate the amendment's importance and the backlash it has faced.
- The documentary critiques the Trump administration and the MAGA movement as a continuation of Confederate "Lost Cause" mythology and an assault on the 14th Amendment's principles.
- The film argues that the legacy of white supremacy continues to challenge the realization of a true multi-racial, multi-faith democracy in the United States.
- 14th is set to premiere at the New York Film Festival, with theatrical and Netflix releases in late November and early December.